TierBrain: From an Idea to a Product (Still in Its Infancy)
When I first started working on TierBrain, the intention was fairly modest. Create an online quiz game, get it working properly and see where things went from there.
It’s gone a little further than I originally envisaged.
TierBrain.co now has more than 60 games, covering a variety of subjects and formats. Some are fairly conventional quizzes, others attempt something a little different, such as Full Circuit.
And there are more in development.
I suppose reaching 60 games is something of an achievement in itself, although I’m conscious that the number alone doesn’t mean very much. Sixty games that nobody plays aren’t necessarily more valuable than six that people enjoy and regularly return to.
Which brings me to something I’ve become increasingly aware of throughout this process: developing a website and attracting people to it are two entirely different challenges.
I’m rather more comfortable with the former at present.
Where Things Stand
TierBrain is functional, the games are playable and I’ve reached a stage where I can start thinking more seriously about what the site could become.
That doesn’t mean I’m satisfied with everything as it stands.
There’s work to be done on the knowledge bank, improvements to existing games and a fair number of ideas that haven’t yet progressed beyond the drawing board.
I also want to introduce more variety. I have no particular interest in filling the site with dozens of games that are essentially the same thing, albeit with different questions.
There’s certainly no shortage of established quiz and browser-game websites, many of which have considerably more resources and much larger audiences than TierBrain.
I’m under no illusions about that.
Nevertheless, I think there’s room for a smaller, independent offering, provided it gives people a reason to come back.
Whether TierBrain can become one remains to be seen.
Supporting Development
All games on TierBrain are currently free to play, and my intention is to keep them accessible without introducing a charge simply to participate.
Of course, continuing to develop the platform requires time and resources. The former is something I’ve been investing fairly heavily. The latter is a little less straightforward.
With that in mind, I’ve established a £500 fundraising target (approximately US$660) through Buy Me a Coffee.
The money would go towards further development, particularly expanding the knowledge bank, improving existing games and helping to introduce new content.
I appreciate that there are far more pressing causes for people to support, and I wouldn’t pretend otherwise. This is, after all, an independent gaming website.
But if people enjoy using it and would like to contribute towards its development, the option is there.
I’ve also introduced the idea of Founding Supporters: people who choose to back TierBrain at this relatively early stage.
I’d like to offer those supporters recognition on the website, opportunities to try selected games ahead of their wider release and some input into what gets developed next.
Nothing overly elaborate, but something that acknowledges their contribution beyond a simple thank you.
What Next?
I’m going to use this page to document TierBrain’s development as it progresses.
That will include new games, additions to the site, changes in direction and, where appropriate, things that haven’t worked particularly well.
I suspect there will be a few of those.
I’m interested in seeing how far I can take the project, although I’d be getting rather ahead of myself if I started talking about TierBrain as an established gaming platform.
It isn’t. Not yet.
What it is, however, is a working product that has grown considerably beyond its original concept.
The immediate challenge is to improve it, build an audience and establish whether there’s a genuine appetite for what I’m offering.
If you’re reading this and haven’t visited TierBrain.co, I’d encourage you to have a look around and try a few games. Feedback is welcome, particularly if you’ve found something that could be improved.
And if you’d like to contribute financially, whether through a one-off donation or as a Founding Supporter, you can do so here.
Either way, I appreciate the interest.
TierBrain is still in its infancy. There’s a considerable amount to do, but I think I’ve reached the point where it’s worth finding out what it might become.